System and apparatus for distributing liquid solutions



a 4 8 2. Z m d ,Z4.- b/5 T .2 1 J m z. 9 WA a my |l|l|.. 8 .3 9 x a T F a pl: M Ta m rl I B -v I i 3 -v m 1 FIVIIFML 7a M I I 5 q. I v W E Z 6 5 w 0 3 1 ta x 9 v ATTOENEK s. A. HAYES 4 SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING LIQUID SOLUTIONS Filed Sept. 24, 1940 7, 2,381,559 I, V t, "SYSTEM AND'APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBnT- 'ING-LIQUID summons e e stanley A. Hayes, fierkele e 'alifn i Aiiblieationsepten ber 24, 1940, serial-Natas a e slcl ai q (CLIVIIDBTZGZ) v.

h ,t'he invention relate to' apparatus .utition'. vi 1 I H 112mg the rnotive'foree off wing liquid for One propert onenas depleted in Figure 2 of afl'ording thei'production ofj.mixtures 'of liquid v 'the' drawing,; is part c iularly designed for accu- "r'nateri'a'l inuriiform,pre'determined,nroportions.v rat'ely applying chen ieals at therate of one gal- Er'nbodiments ormyinvention", are entirely Ion of ooneentrated'solut on to fifty gallons of suitabl' for adaptationto variety of industrial water underpressurevariations as above stated uses "wherever" aj'definitejproportionate mixture while a slightly m od1fied embodiment thereof, as

I isa esireeand ndrman is obtained thioughgthe 1O illustrated --in 'FigureB of thejdrawing gi's' espej- "in'the aeeompapying'drawing; .Itlisto'beunder- 40 -'einp1oyr'nent"of,; somewhatjcomplek metering deoiallyj designed ioraccurately applying ohernie'als Vices. An some application of my invenat the rate of; one gallon 'o f coneentrated solution times in t 'atmfit loi' plants, flowers, trees, to twenty-five gallons of water under pressure iawns'and; e t e k andfungicidaln'ieans orniaterials as well aswith lfifty teet of one-half inch, or live eighth 13161 1 01 soluble'fertili z ers.For purposes of illustration three quarter nch gardenhose Thus, IP15) to eJnd de'SCriptiOn, soleljifthis application will be *be 'understood thatgior givenlengths of hose or directed to the inventilorlfas exemplified i the pipe one proportioner or another m 9, m' 'l'ast'finentioned environment, q ployed for applying a'desired, definite propi irmx fi fi ry b 51 ie; m' d d'e 0 tionate'mixture (l f 0hellli0fil and l qu1d. improvements in enact; the elements of aliquid s'per c y l u t 1 g 1, 2 :mixmg'e stem of the .chaiacterjutilizing, the "and 3gof the drawing, the liquid system ofmy motit' pow'er or a niovingfliquid' to'lift material m e a empl mpg p ent for app ytlie'riht'a' whiehafiords the pr oducfiion f liquid mg suitabletreatmg chemicals to plants, trees,

e--l1k e with in'sectieidal, germicidal wariations'as stated and in both instanoes with mixtures of predeterminedinromrtions .under 515"1'awns'and:the like;breferablyincludes a convene s. t .1 7 1 tional inch, in0h, or%'inch"g'arden hose ll d vamaplg preiismzes'of the having emu flowingtype nozzle I2 on the outlet MdrefsI 3l i mallY, thbblQofiof -theinventioniS Bin-dithered The drawing is intended tone?" to em de" an' improved proportioner for a liquid PM a n girdle-711955 9f fifty feet in 1 mixmg syssem oi'the' indicated nature whichis g B t? vleligtilspimsey {my be 9" N V d, 1f-des1red,,W1 th the proportioner 0f the 'oabable of efiect'ing' the: automatic". entrainment of desired; 'predeterminedglamounts of amaterial per given volume of lill iid passing therethrough and which has means incorporated thereinIor positively preventing dilution of thefmaterial at itsso'ureejby bacl j flow of liquid thereinto, [Ifhe foregoing and other objects are: attained in a'preferred embodiment and aimodified embodiment of my 'inventionwhieh are illustrated system interposed "in the line' as; above explained. The system also in'cludes' a proportioner l3 which; for a fifty footiength of'hose, is attached standard faucet extending, as is customary, from an exterior wall l5 of a home, or other building or,for:example,'- extending from a standpipe in the garden or anywhere in the vicinity of the plants, lawn or trees to be'treate'd, 'In addition, the system includes a suitable container I! which mayibe fabricated of any desired material, I such as glassfwood, clay or metal, or from plas tic material or of porcelain; the containerservstood that 'I' am net .to e limited to the p ecise embodiments shown nor to the-spreeise arrenge inent o f'lthe various elements thereoflglas my -invention, asldeiinedin the appended claims, ean be embodiedin; a; plurality and'yariety,'of' forms.

" Referring to the drawing; 1

chemical for ,application.- A suitable conduit l8, which may be and'preferably is a flexible rubber to the inlet end thereo-f 'and' also is fastened to a ing to hold a supply of a desired and proper ure 1 is a reduced elevationa IYlQW f ,a e-p ietube jhaving aspring or other suitable strainer 19 lerred embodiment of the inye'ri i b as exemplir at: oneend thereof, depends into the container l1 fied'in garden'equipment tne gardenhos beine and is preferably weighted with any suitable b ok ip DU PWe oili llsb ai iqllo ly. form 2 I to hold the tube and strainer adjacentto Figure 2 is aflongitudinal, seetionalyiew of a the bottom of the container; the tube being preferred 'embjodimentrotaproportion, employed fastened at its other end to the suction inlet -16 in rny preferred liquid mixing system 3 of the proportioner 13:. As is Well understood, .1 F1gure2a is a viewtakeno e line,2 d 2q, of

F?ig1iref2: f line including a plurality of pipes, such as the faucet I 4 is on the outletjendof a water-supply n volume very low, this combination can be and.

has been used effectively with soluble insecticides on potted plants, flats, etc., etc.;in thegreen house without waste of material. It --isnot necessary to water the lawn after .applying the chemicals with the proportioner installed in the system, as the proper amount of :water is used when applying the chemicals.

In accordance with my invention, the liquid .-mixing system in every instance is provided with a proportioner l3 which preferablybomprises'a hollow body having a hose connection 46 and 41 at :each end; thereof, the connections having standard threads so that the proportioner-can be fitted either to a conventional garden hose or to a faucet havingstandardthreads, such as the faucet-J4. Removably disposed within the hollow, ,body of the proportioner 13 isa multi-step, balanced meteringielement 48 having an axial H variable cross-section by virtue of the interi r =step formation of theelement. In its Preferred. form, the metering element 48 of my improved proportioner. 13' includes annular flanges I,:and 52 on opposite endsthereof, as

Well as an annular flange, 53 on one side thereof which defines, in conjunction withthe inner surface of the proportioner body on which it seats, a chamber 54 communicating with an axial bore 55 of proportioner inlet l6. The metering element48alsoris transversely slitted to provide a relatively'narrow material inlet port 56 establishing communication between bore 55 of the inlet I6 andthe bore 49 of the metering element throughthe chamber 54.- In fitting the meter'-' ing ,element 48 withinthe proportioner body, I first seat a washer 51,-;preferab1y fabricatedof rubber to -insure a water-tight joint, on aninturned, annular shoulderprovided by an inner flangev 58. of ,the proportioner body, and then slide the metering element into operative position in engagement with; the'rubber washer 51; theflange 52- of themetering element seating against the inner surface of flange 58 of the hollow body I also .dispose a mass of malleable r material 59,:such as soft lead, around flange 5i of the metering element on anexterior shoulder 6| of; the element formed by the flange 5!; the lead filling the space between the metering element and the inner surfaceof the hose connection 46 ofthe body l3.- To-lock the metering element-tightly in this operative position, I provide a lock-nut-62 having external threads thereon for threaded engagement with internal threads on the hose connection '46, and screw thistnut tightly against the mass of sort lead 59;

theanutconveniently'being provided with a pair of slots for the reception of a spanner wrench to tighten the nut or to remove the same when it is desired to replace a damaged metering element element can be readily withdrawn.

The metering element 48 of the proportioner l3 which is depicted in the enlarged showing of Figure 2 of the drawing is a four step metering element for accurately applying chemicals at the rate of one gallon of concentrated solution to fifty gallons of water under varying water pressures with fifty feet of inch, inch, or inch garden hose. The stepping of the metering element is critical in order that pressure balances be maintained on both'sides'of material inlet port 56. As shown, "the metering element 48 is so stepped as to provide a bore section II at the inlet end thereof which is of uniform diameter and larger in diameter than any of the other bore r sectionsof the metering element. Bore section II merges with a tapered or inwardly converging bore section 12 which, in turn, merges with a relatively long bore section 13 of relatively small but uniform diameter throughout; the center of bore section 13 being on the longitudinal axis of the metering element. Bore section 13, in turn, mergeswith a last bore section 14 at the outlet end of the, metering. element, such outlet bore section ,14 being of uniform diameterbut slightly larger in diameter thanthe diameter of the central. bore ,section 1.3. As depicted, the material inlet ,portSBof the metering element communi- 'cates withthe central, dongbore section 13 at which point the materialis entrained by the motivating power of the water caused to flow throughthebore of themetering element which creates a vacuum at the expanding bore section 14.11: is to beparticularly observed that, in forming the material inlet .port .56 of the proportioner metering element 48, the .slit is extended to thetrans-verse center .of the central bore section", theport Sfiithus partially interrupting fluid flow through such bore. This formation of the material inlet port56 enhances the interior sealing of the metering element against the admission of airand thus eliminates all-possibility of disturbing the. lifting power or value of the flowing fluidand ofdisturbing the ratio between the amount of fluid and of the entrained material in the resultant mixture emitted.

In accordance with my invention, the proportioner l3 of myimpro'ved liquid mixing system is provided with means for positively preventing the pollution ofthe water supply line with treating chemicalawhichmight otherwise occur, and frequently has heretofore occurred in systems heretofore employed, as a resultiof the creation of a backpressure ofsuflicient value to overcome thehead pressure of theline, or the creation of a vacuum anywhere along the line. As is well kno wn,', a kinlring offlthe garden hose II is one cause ofsetting up a back pressure of such'value' and this frequently occurs. The orema tra :vacuum" in the line may occur in a number of ways such as, for-example, when a fire plug is'broken' off or if the main water line is plugged ff at the bottom of a hill for repairs,

and air is'allowed to enter the line when draining from the'. topv to the, bottomsof the hill. This last mentioned event has resulted in the creation of a vacuum as high as 30 inches of mercury. Moreover, a vacuuni'inay be created should fire fighting equipment pump the main line dry. The means" that I preferably provide in my improved proportioner include notonly any air control unit,

hereinafter termed the vacuum breaker, but alsoa fluid control unit at theinletend of the proportioner. As, illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawing, the fluid jcontrol unit preferably comprises a spring-controlled check valve including a valve seat?! l= having external'threads thereon for threadedly fitting the seat within the proportioner, body which is provided with internal threads 82 for. thispurpose, together with a valve 83. whichis urged against the-seat 8| by a spring 84v bearingagainst thevalve 83 at its one end and against the internalflange 58 of. the proportioner body atits other end. While I have depicted the valve 83 as of the ball type, any other suitable valve may be employed, as desired. Whenever suflicient back pressure is set upin the line to overcome the pressure of the water supply line,

thevalve ,83 is urged against its seat 8| and held there, thus preventing the mixture of fluid and chemical from-passing back into the pipes 23 and 24, as well .as into other pipesof the supply circuit Ofythe home or other building so that likelihood of illnessor possible death of persons v fromdrinking or, cooking water containing toxic material, is effectively avoided. The air control unit, or vacuum breaker preferably comprises an; integral part of the proportioner l3 and in.- cludes an air; inlet I formed in-the .proportioner body; between the check valve 83 and the coni I nection 41 at the inlet end of the proportioner,

tQEetheLWith; a hollow body 2 housing a valve guide, :-l..-v lf desired, the proportioner body may bethreaded at'the air inlet! for threadedlyvre-l ceiving the hollow .body 2, as shown. The valve guidej of ,the vacuum breaker is I surrounded by passagesyl, which may be a series of holes as illustrated especially in Figure 2a of the draw ing, or may be enlarged S10tS, f0r admitting air to an orifice iformed in a valve'oap 6 which is interiorly, iormed to provide a .valve seat 1'. Any suitable valve maybe employedin the vacuum breaker llnitfor controlling orifice .5. In .the

embodimentshown, Iprovide a flat head type of valve includingan integral stem 8 which freethe inlet 1 after it has been admitted through slides in valve .guide 3, and: a head 9. A rubbe njva sher llLis preferably fitted to head 9 of the valve, the washer being conveniently held in positionby a small screw Illa. In operation,

when the-water or liquid supply is turned on the pressure effects a closing of the vacuum breaker-z valve to prevent air from entering through iorifice Upon the creation of a vacuum intheline, the vacuum breaker valve opens to allow an inrushof air past orifice 5, the passages 4 and thru inlet I into the line on the inlet side r of jhe z check valve. 83. The orifice 5 is of such sizea 't o admit sufiicientair to overcome any vacuum created and thus prevent drawing; of material into the line by the suction. It may be observed that the vacuum breaker of my improved proportioner has successfully been tested by the Los Angeles Water and Plumbing Departmentdefi nitely establishing thatno material can enterthejsupply line upon the creation of a va cuum therein with my improved proportioner c addition to. the provision of means for preventing back flow of water and material to thewatersupply line, I 'also .rprovide means associated with the proportioner I3 and forming part thereof for preventing flow of the mixture of water and entrained material back into the container. I! -when back, pressure is created. These means preferably comprise a spring-con- Y trolled-valve 8 6 which is urged by a spring. 81

against'a seat-88 formed in a pipe connection 89 whichfis' internally threaded for detachable enyvith external threads provided on pro- 5 g ng u n m breaker is a the ui lm nss te Q portioner inlet I6; .the' connection ;89khavinga:a reduced portion 90 thereon fOrfitt'ing tube -IS thereto, all-as clearly: shown in Figure 2-of the drawing. While a-ball valve 86 is sho'wn, any other suitable type of valve may be employed as desired. As is well known,.the flow of fluid or liquid through the metering element, 7 upon opening of theiaucet l4,.will'unseat* valve 83 to permit the liquid to flow through the multi-' section bore49 of themeteringelement thus creating suflicient suction J to lift .materialfrom the container ll for entrainment in the liquid stream. The stepformation-ofthe metering ele ment affords the entrainment of definite amounts of chemical per volumeof Water passing through a hose II of fifty footlength and of'a diameter of either /2 inch, inch, or inch; themetew ing element depicted in-Figure 2 of-the' drawing functioning to entrain one part,- icy-volume, of

chemical, to fifty parts of water. a

While I have depicted a four step metering element in the enlarged showingof Figure 2,"it"is to be understood that myinventio'n also contemplates the use of additional steps in the metering element in order that the proportion of chemical 'towater in the resultant-mixture can bevaried tosuitdesired ends, and itisto-be observed that p the additional steps are preferably added at'the outlet end of themetering element. I have successfully used a five step metering element, i. e., one having five bore sections, for applying one gallon of a soluble chemical, or. chemicalin suspension in water, to twenty-five gallons-of water under pressure through the metering element, using fifty feet of either inch, or inch; or inch garden hose, with the proportioner attached to the water faucet, as shown, or with the proportioner interposed between two fifty feet lengths of hose, or pipe 'Moreover, I have sucoessfully'used a proportioner of my invention having more than five-bore sections, inconjunc- 'tion with a spray type nozzle at the output end of a hose of the'stated. dimensions, ioralso applying one gallon of ,such chemical to twentyfive gallons of water, even though the last menfive parts of water, as a result of the back pressure'set up by the use of the restrictive type of nozzle. In Figure.3- of the drawing, 1, have illustrated a modified, embodiment. .of metering element248' for the proportioner of theimproved liquid mixing system,.such modificationbeing alluded to hereinabove.. In thismodification, as

in the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the .metering element is recessed'to provide an enlarged chamber 254 for receivingamaterial toLbe distributed, and also is slitted to provide a material inlet port 256 which communicates with chamber 254; the slit preferably .being-textendeduto the common axis of .the'various bore sections of the element and preferablysbeingrelatively :nar-, row, or approximately none-half the: diameter, more or less; of the diameter of the central; bore section of. the/metering element, ,.;{The multi section. bore. of metering element 248 comprises a relatively shorts inlet bore. section Y 21] ;.igrmed 213 of circular cross-section but of smaller diam-- eter than bore section 2] I"; together'witha short boresection 2 13a of. slightly larger diameterthan bore-section 213; and annoutlet bore: section 214 preferably formed to a right cylinder and of larger diameter than the bore section 2113a; These boresections are preferably'formed by stepping, the metering -element internally, although the-multi-sectionabore can be formed in aseparate tube or other element and removably inserted in the element 248,.if1 desired. As-shown, thelfive bore sections definea continuous bore having a common axis and it is to bexnotedthat the added bore section 213a, as compared tothe four step-metering element depicted in Figure 2, preferably is formed in the. metering element on the outlet side and: next towthe central bore section 213. In thee ven't thatua reduc'ed -ratiol'ba tween: the liquid caused to flow through the pro portioner and the entrained material is desired, an addition 'oradditional steps, and. defined bore sections, can be; provided in the met'e'ring element of 'thetproportioner, all such additions being formed on: the outlet side of the central boresectionl'li. v

Lelaim':

1. A proportioner forefiecting the distribution of a substantially constant,. predetermined pro portionat-e' mixture ;0f-a. pest control material andwa carrier. liquid: under all variations of pres sure nf thecarrierliquid; saidrlproportioner being. adapted to be interposed in a linethrough which a carrier liquid is causediwto now under variable pressures. and comprisingv a hollow body having, an inlet and an outlet for'receiving and emitting, the carrier liquid; aside inlet formed in-said .body through which a pestcontrol material; may pass for: entrainment inxt'he carrier meteringelement-comprising a multiJ-section jet therethrough communicating;- withatheinleit and outlet of said :body; sai'driet. including an inlet l SECtlOl'lxb'f rightcylinder cross section' and predetiennined' diameter for receiving the carrier liquid from the inletaof -said body and for trans mitting the same-inaafiill, solidstream; ataper ing section merging with said inlet section and servingotowlncreasethe speed of flow ofithe carrier liquid;;a. relatively long; central section: of right cylinder'cross-isection. and: of less diameter thanethediameternof said inlet: section merging withv said taperinglsectionqand communicating witmsaidside inletlci said hollow 'body; said; centrai-section serving to 1 seal :the -j et against. admisslew of aiiriandito imai-ntaina'the transmission of the rca-nrieriiliquidi in: a. straight, solid stream for eifecting the'entrainment of a pest control materialiin thew-carrier liquid: through said: side inlet; and a nutlet sectionl of rightxacylinder cross secti-dnl. andl of greater diameter than the diameter an inlet and anoutlet' for receiving andemitting the carrier liquid, a side inletformedin saidbody through which a pest control material may pass for entrainment in the carrier liquid, and a metering element in said body; said metering element comprising a multi-section jet therethroug-hcommunicating with the inlet and outlet of said "body, said jet including an inlet section ofright cylinder cross-section and predetermined diameter-"for receivingthe carrier liquid from theinlet of said-body and for transmittin'g the same in=-a full, solid; stream, a tapering section merging-with said inlet section and serving to increase the speed of flow of the carrier liquid, a relatively long central section of right cylinder ic-ross -section and of less diameter than the diameter of said inlet sectionnierging with said tapering section and communicating with said side inelt of said-hollow body; said cen-' t-ralsection serving to' seal the-jet against admission of air and to maintain the transmission 01 the carrier liquid in a-straght; solid stream for effecting the entrainment of a pest'control material through said side=inlet intothe carrier liquid, and a multi-step; outlet section communi catingwith said central section as well as with the outlet of said body; said multi-step outlet section serving tocontrol the ratio-between the entrained pest control material and the carrier liquid and includinga-first step of right'cylinder cross-section and of greater diameter than said central section; and a-last step of greater diam multi-step outlet section.

of said centr-al section and merging; therewith;

pressures andcomprising a hollow-body having 3. Aproportioner as defined inclaim 1 wherein said metering element isremovably mounted in saidbody and is replaceable witha metering element in which the outlet section of said multi-section jet of said metering element isof a'differentdiameter than" the diameter of the outlet'section of the replaced metering element thus enablingthe distribution of a mixture of pest control material and carrier liquid of any desired predetermined proportions between the pes t control material and the carrier liquid.

4. 'A system'for distributing substantially constant predetermined proportionate mixtures of a pest control'materia'l and-a carrier liquid under all variations of pressure of the carrier liquid; said system comprising a source of supply'of carrier liquid, a hose-through which a mixture of pest control material and the carrier liquid is caused to flow under variable pressure on the carrier liquid, a container for holding-a supply of pest control material, a proportioner interposed between said source of supply of carrier liquid and said hose; said'proportion'er having a main inlet and a main outlet for establishing communication between said source'of supply of carrier liquid and said hose {and also ha'vinga side inlet through whichpest control material may pass from said container into the carrier liquid as it moves under variable pressurethrough said proportioner, said prop'ortioner also having an atmospheric vent therein between said'main inlet and said source'of supply ofcarrier liquid, a first valve for controllingthe main inlet of said proportioner; said first valve normally being maintained-open by the pressure on the carrier liquid to permit flow of the carrier 'liquidunder pressure through said'proportioner and said hose from the source of supply of carrier liquid, said first valve automatically closing whenever a .back pressure is set upin S2ij.d:hOSG of greater value than the pressure of the carrier liquid' thereby preventingpollution of the source of supply with pest control material mixed With the carrier liq-- uid, a second valve controlling the side inlet of thereby preventing dilution of the pest control material in said container with the carrier liquid, and a third valve controlling the atmospheric vent in said proportioner; ISaid third valve normally being maintained closed and being adapted automatically to open and permit an inrush of v air whenever a vacuum is placed on the source of supply of carrier liquid thus preventing pollution of the source of supply of carrier liquid by 'pest control material from said container and said hose tending to'fiow back through the main inlet of said proportioner upon the placing of a vacuum on the source of supply of carrier liquid.

5. A system for distributing liquid solutions of which one liquid is'a carrier liquid and the other ,is a pest control material or the like, said system being adapted to prevent pollution of the source of carrier liquid as well asto prevent dilution of the supply. of pest control material; said sys tern comprising a source of supply of carrier liquid, a hose through which solutions of carrier liquid and pest control material is distributed, a container for holding a supply of pest control 5 material, an ejector body connected between said source of supply of carrier liquid and said hose; said body having a main inlet and a main outlet establishing communication between said source of supply of carrier liquid and said hose 10 as well as a side inlet establishing communication between said container and the carrier liq- 'uid passing through said body, means in said body for effecting the ejection of material from 'said container for entrainment in said carrier liquid, a first valve controlling said main inlet, a

second valve controlling said side inlet; said first and second valves being adapted automatically to close whenever the back pressure in said hose exceeds the pressure on said carrier liquid and thus to prevent flow of the solution back-through said body to said source of supply of said carrier liquid or back into said container; said body having an atmospheric vent therein, and a third valve controlling said atmospheric vent to check any return flow of the solution to the source of supply of carrier liquid whenever a vacuum is placed on the source of supply of carrier liquid.

STANLEY A. 

